Single unit bodily fluid collection, mixing, and testing unit

Abstract

A single unit bodily fluid collection and mixing device that is used for collecting a specified amount of bodily fluid, mixing the bodily fluid with a specified amount of solution, mixing the bodily fluid and solution in a contained volume to prevent contamination, and applying the resulting mixture to a lateral flow test surface. The unit is a single device, and does not require multiple pieces or systems to collect patient bodily fluid, measure out solution, combine the patient bodily fluid, and apply the mixture to a testing surface. Rather, the single unit already contains the desired amount of solution, a collection tube receives a specified amount of bodily fluid from a patient, and the single device can be used to mix the two fluids together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for preparing a bodily fluid sample to be tested, the device comprising:
 a piston;   a sleeve configured to receive the piston, the piston extending outward from a first end of the sleeve and slideably coupled to the sleeve;   a collection tube extending from a second end of the sleeve to a first end of the piston, the collection tube having an aperture at a first end of the collection tube for receiving a bodily fluid from a patient, the bodily fluid stored within the collection tube; and   a reservoir coupled to the sleeve, the reservoir including a predetermined quantity of solution, the reservoir configured to receive the collection tube when the piston is displaced into the sleeve, the collection tube configured to release the bodily fluid into the reservoir when the piston is displaced into the sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the piston, sleeve, collection tube and reservoir are part of a single device. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the collection tube has an inner portion to receive the bodily fluid, the inner portion having a volume that collects a static volume of blood to be combined, within the single device, with the predetermined quantity of solution to be used for a particular test. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the piston is configured to receive a bodily fluid from a finger of the patient through the aperture of the collection tube. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve, the valve displaced within the sleeve, the valve keeping the collection tube in place while the collection tube receives bodily fluid, the valve allowing the collection tube to pass through the valve when the piston is displaced into the sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , the valve preventing any particles from outside the device to enter the reservoir except the bodily fluid from the collection tube. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the piston is displaced into the sleeve when a pressure is exerted on the piston towards the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a cap displaced over an outer surface of the device corresponding to the reservoir, the cap removable from the device, the reservoir including an aperture under the cap that allows a mixture of the solution and bodily fluid to be dispersed out of the device once the cap is removed. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the mixture of bodily fluid and solution are combined in the reservoir and used to perform a lateral flow test. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the piston have a similar shape. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the piston have a circular shape. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bodily fluid and solution are mixed in the reservoir